The Anonymous Widower

Can B12 Injections Improve Eyesight?

i had one of my three-monthly B12 injections today and my eyesight seems better.

So I asked Google AI, the title of this post and received this answer.

Yes, B12 injections can improve eyesight if vision problems are caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency. Injections can help reverse vision loss associated with B12 deficiency, such as in cases of optic neuropathy. They may also help lower the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, though this is linked to maintaining sufficient vitamin levels rather than treating existing vision loss.

Note that when I typed the question into Google, Google appeared to predict I might type it.

As my hearing seems better, whilst, I’m watching  the television, I repeated the question with hearing and received this answer.

B12 injections may improve hearing for individuals with a B12 deficiency, particularly those with tinnitus, because low levels can damage nerves in the ear. For people without a deficiency, evidence suggests B12 injections have little to no effect on hearing. Studies show that B12 supplementation can reduce the severity of tinnitus in those who are deficient.

I shall keep having the injections.

October 22, 2025 Posted by | Health | , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Does B12 Boost Your Eyesight?

This may seem an unusual question to ask, but this morning, when I put my bobble hat on, I forgot to put my glasses back on and went out for breakfast without them.

I have worn glasses for forty years and I had no trouble at all. I even sent a text message to check the time of the next bus.

The difference this morning, compared to most others, was that I had a B12-boosting Marks and Spencer’s Liver and Bacon ready meal last night.

So I asked Google AI, the title of this post and received this reply.

Vitamin B12 does not boost eyesight for those with adequate levels, but it can improve vision that has been impaired by a B12 deficiency. A deficiency can damage the optic nerve, leading to blurry vision, and supplementing with B12 can reverse this damage. B12 and other B vitamins can also help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by lowering homocysteine levels.

Note.

  1. I take a regular B6 tablet to help my homocysteine levels.
  2. I was found to be seriously deficient of B12 at fifty and this led to me being diagnosed with coeliac disease.
  3. I am probably a bit deficient in B12 at the moment, as my regular three-monthly injection is due on the first of November.
  4. My mother went blind from age-related macular degeneration and died of cancer.

I’ve always assumed, that it was my father, who carried the coeliac gene, but perhaps it was my mother?

I asked Google AI, if age-related macular degeneration is related to coeliac disease, and received this reply.

While there is no direct causal link between celiac disease and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), celiac disease may increase the risk of AMD through two potential mechanisms: malabsorption of nutrients and an autoimmune connection. Malabsorption can lead to lower levels of protective carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin, which are vital for macular health. Additionally, the systemic inflammatory and autoimmune nature of celiac disease has been linked to an increased risk for several other autoimmune conditions, some of which are associated with a higher risk of AMD.

Finally, I asked Google AI if menstrual problems are related to coeliac disease, and received this reply.

Yes, menstrual problems are related to celiac disease, and women with celiac disease have higher frequencies of menstrual disorders such as irregular periods, delayed menstruation, missed periods, and early menopause. These issues can stem from nutrient deficiencies and the immune system’s reaction to gluten, but many symptoms often improve significantly after starting a strict gluten-free diet.

I am drawn towards the conclusion, that my mother was an undiagnosed coeliac.

October 18, 2025 Posted by | Hydrogen | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Now My Kidneys Might Be Packing Up

I have just been told by my GP, that the blood tests they took showed my kidneys might be packing up.

But he also said it could be the heat.

So I asked Google AI “Can hot weather affect kidney functions?” and got this answer.

Yes, hot weather can negatively affect kidney function, primarily through dehydration and its impact on blood flow to the kidneys. Dehydration can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI), and studies show that the risk of AKI increases with rising daily temperatures.

That seems to backup what the GP told me.

They are going to repeat the tests.

When I had the blood test, they took the blood out of my right arm and afterwards gave my left arm, my three-monthly B12 injection.

So did the blood test, show low B12?

So I asked Google AI “Can low B12 affect kidney functions?” and got this answer.

Yes, low vitamin B12 can potentially affect kidney function, particularly in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). While B12 deficiency is more commonly associated with neurological and blood-related issues, it can also impact kidney health and vice versa.

That’s better than a kick in the teeth, as C would say!

Can I take this line of thinking further?

I was fifty, when I was found to be coeliac and I had my stroke at 64, because of atrial fibrillation.

So I asked Google AI “Can low B12 affect heart functions?” and got this answer.

Yes, low vitamin B12 can affect heart function. Specifically, it can lead to symptoms like heart palpitations and shortness of breath, and in severe cases, it can contribute to conditions like heart failure. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also increase the risk of circulatory problems and potentially contribute to cardiovascular disease.

I certainly had palpitations and shortness of breath at times before I went on blood thinning drugs.

So did low B12 cause my atrial fibrillation

I asked Google AI “Can low B12 cause atrial fibrillation?” and got this answer.

While a B12 deficiency can indirectly contribute to atrial fibrillation (AFib) risk, it’s not a direct cause. Low B12 can lead to elevated homocysteine levels, which are associated with an increased risk of AFib and stroke. However, B12 deficiency is more directly linked to other cardiovascular issues like anemia and heart failure, which can indirectly increase the risk of AFib.

It would seem that fifty years of low B12 didn’t do my heart much good.

I have to finish with one last question for Google AI

I asked Google AI “Can coeliac disease cause atrial fibrillation?” and got this answer.

Yes, celiac disease can be associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), a type of irregular heartbeat. While the exact mechanisms are still being researched, chronic inflammation and shared risk factors are believed to play a role in this connection.

This paper on the National Institutes of Health is entitled Celiac Disease and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation, where this was the conclusion.

A significant association between celiac disease and risk of atrial fibrillation was reported in this study. There is a 38% increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Additional studies are needed to clarify the mechanistic link between atrial fibrillation and celiac disease. Some of the limitations of this study are that all were observational studies, some were medical registry-based and there was high heterogeneity between studies.

This was news to me, but the paper only dates from 2020.

August 13, 2025 Posted by | Health | , , , | 1 Comment

Do Vitamin B12 Injections Make You Drowsy?

For the last couple of days I’ve been feeling a bit drowsy.

  • The physio at my fitness class possibly noticed it on Friday.
  • I certainly had a good siesta on Friday afternoon.
  • This morning I went back to bed after the Ocado delivery at 06:30 and slept for an hour.

Google AI gave this answer to my question.

Cyanocobalamin is a form of vitamin B12 that is used to increase vitamin B12 levels. It is available in a variety of forms over the counter as a supplement and by prescription as an injection or nasal spray. Some common side effects may include headache, feeling weak or tired, and nausea.

I certainly didn’t have any headache or nausea. But then I rarely have the first and only have the second, when I see Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin on the television.

According to the BBC, we have been having unusually low atmospheric pressure for this time of year.

So I also asked Google AI if low atmospheric pressure can make you drowsy.

Google AI gave this answer to my question.

Yes, low atmospheric pressure can make you drowsy. This is because low pressure systems, often associated with stormy or cloudy weather, can lead to decreased sunlight exposure, which can disrupt the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm) and increase melatonin production, the hormone that promotes sleep. Additionally, low pressure can reduce oxygen saturation, potentially causing fatigue.

As my now-retired GP felt I was badly affected by low atmospheric pressure, I’ll go along with that!

As that GP and myself felt that low atmospheric pressure drew water out of my body and made me dehydrated, I asked Google a supplementary question – Does dehydration make you drowsy?

Google AI gave this answer to my question.

Yes, dehydration can definitely make you feel drowsy. When your body is dehydrated, it doesn’t have enough fluids to function optimally, which can lead to fatigue and drowsiness. Dehydration can also cause a drop in blood pressure, which can reduce blood flow to the brain, further contributing to feelings of tiredness and sleepiness, according to A.Vogel UK.

I’ll go along with that.

Conclusion

Did the combination of the B12 injection and the low atmospheric pressure combine to make me unusually drowsy?

It’s certainly a possibility.

The more I ask Dr. Google questions, that he passes to his computerised assistant, the more I like and trust the system.

 

 

August 2, 2025 Posted by | Computing, Health | , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

To Norbiton For A Plate Of Lovely Liver

I seem to need a lot of Vitamin B12.

  • I am coeliac, which probably means I don’t absorb enough out of my food.
  • Although, when my gallstones were removed, the surgeon had a look and said everything was good.
  • When Homerton Hospital found my Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease, that I talked about in I’ve Got Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease, they also said everything else was good.
  • In the United States, Vitamin B12 is given to stroke patients to help recovery.
  • I’ve had Vitamin B12 injections for nearly thirty years, since they were prescribed by Addenbrooke’s hospital.

Certainly, I find that a Vitamin B12 injection doesn’t seem to have the same effect, it had twenty years ago. So, is my brain saying, I’ll have that, when I have an injection?

When I lived in Suffolk and I felt my Vitamin B12 was low, I’d go down the pub or carluccio’s in Cambridge or Bury and have a plate of liver.

But liver is rare in London restaurants and Carluccio’s don’t serve it any more.

A guy in the reader’s comments in The Times told me of a restaurant called the Trattoria Calabrese, that sold liver in sage butter yesterday. So today, I took a train to Norbiton to get myself some extra Vitamin B12.

These pictures describe my first visit to Norbiton.

The short walk to the restaurant from Norbiton station was very much worth it. I shall go back!

February 11, 2025 Posted by | Food, Health | , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment